Here anyway the usual requirement these days by insurance Cos etc is
that "acceptable" surveyors carry indemnity insurance. Hmm insurance
from & for the insurance:-)

Look for membership in NAMS or SAMS, two professional societies that self
regulate surveyors in North America. Frankly, it isn't all that tough to get in
(your check has to clear the bank), but it might be tougher to stay in if you
leave a trail of ruptured hearts everywhere you do business.

Most yacht brokers have a list of surveyors, and internally refer to some of
them as "buyer's" surveyors and "seller's" surveyors. Ideally, you will get a
neutral surveyor who is simply going to discharge his or her duty to make a
factual report about the observed condition of the specific boat in question.
All too often the "buyer's" surveyor will be ridiculously harsh on the first
two or three boats presented for survey, and about the time the surveyor senses
that his client in on the verge of giving up the purchase of any sort of boat
at all (cutting off further revenue to the surveyor), the recommendations an
exceptions on the final boat are a little more forgiving.

A "seller's surveyor" can be a maritime Mr. Magoo. All too often, things that
should be setting off alarm bells are glossed over lightly or altogether
ignored.

Using a "buyer's" surveyor can be a good negotiating ploy, if you have enough
practical knowledge to realize that some conditions that are technically
sub-par are not necessarily going to be hazardous or continue to deteriorate
with time.